UNGNADIA (oon-ga-NA-dee-a)SAPINDACEAE. A single species. Seed viable 3 years.
—Ungnadia speciosa. (10) UNGN-4. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $12.00
'TEXAN' or 'MEXICAN BUCKEYE'. Fragrant inch-wide rose flowers in April to May,
before the leaves. Large pinnate shining leaves. Small tree to 10 - 30 feet. S.
Texas and N. México. A beautiful and fast growing drought tolerant tree that
can flower when 3 years old. Try it in mild (Zone 8) climates outside its range,
such as California. The large black seeds are used as marbles, but cause
'giddiness' if eaten. Germinates in a month or so.

VACCINIUM (vac-SIN-ee-um)ERICACEAE. Mostly hardy shrubs and trees grown for ornament and their edible
berries. Evergreen or deciduous, with bell or urn-shaped flowers, ranging from
the arctic to mountains in the tropics. Good in the shrubbery, border and wild
garden. Bright autumn foliage. Sow on the surface. Some germinate readily,
others need 2 weeks to 3 months cold. Begins to germinate in a month, and some
come up for a year. Fall sowing is good.—Vaccinium Myrtillus. (100) VACC-17. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50'WHORTLEBERRY', 'BILBERRY'. Tiny shrub rarely over 1 - 2 feet, with leathery
myrtle-like leaves. White or pink 1/4" flowers in short racemes. Black
edible 1/3" berries. North Eurasia. Zone 3. The berries are much eaten in
Scotland and are fine for preserves. A fine flavored wine has been made from
them. Used medicinally like Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, for cystitis, etc.
The leaves and berries are used to improve the eyesight and against macular
degeneration. Seed germinates in 2 - 12 weeks, best in light, surface sow.
—Vaccinium ovatum. (100) VACC-20. Packet: $2.50'BOX BLUEBERRY', 'EVERGREEN HUCKLEBERRY'. Abundant black 1/3" berries
on a spreading evergreen shrub to 3 - 8 feet. Pink and white waxen bell-shaped
flowers and leathery dark green shining leaves. B.C. to California. Zone 7. The
berries are juicy and delicious, excellent for pies. The foliage is popular
winter decoration. Give 3 months cold.
VALERIANA (va-le-ree-A-na)VALERIANACEAE. Perennials and shrubs native to all continents except
Australia and Antarctica. Easily grown medicinal and ornamental hardy
perennials.—Valeriana officinalis. (100) VAL-12. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $10.00'VALERIAN', 'GARDEN HELIOTROPE'. Large clusters of tiny white flowers with a
spicy scent, June to September. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with handsome
pinnate foliage. Europe. Zone 3. Best in damp areas. Forms nice colonies with
age. Cats are attracted to the plant. The strong-scented rhizomes are an ancient
medicine, affecting the nervous system and commonly used as a sedative and
anti-anxiety remedy; the original 'valium'. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks, may be
irregular. GA-3 often helps.

"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor
to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."—A.
France.

VERATRUM (VER-a-trum)LILIACEAE. 'FALSE HELLEBORE'. Robust hardy thick-rooted perennials grown in
the border for the bold effect of the shining, pleated, parallel-veined leaves,
and large sprays of flowers. Easily grown and hardy, best in part shade and
moist soil. Give seed cold treatment or sow in fall, to germinate in 3 - 12
months. Some are poisonous and insecticidal.
Photos and info: http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Veratrum—Veratrum californicum. (50) VERA-6.
Packet: $3.50'CORN LILY'. Bold perennial to 7 feet, with broad, ribbed, boat-shaped
leaves, and large, 1 1/2 foot long panicles of greenish white, 6-petaled,
3/4" flowers in midsummer. Moist meadows of Western N. America. Prechill
helps, but many germinate in 3 - 5 months warm.—Veratrum nigrum. (50) VERA-17. Packet: $4.00'BLACK FALSE HELLEBORE'. Unusual blackish-purple flowers in panicles. Hardy
perennial to 4 feet with whorls of bold, foot-long, 8" wide leaves with
striking veins. Europe. Zone 5. Interesting hardy plant. Seed dormant when
fresh. Germinates best when a year or two old, coming up in 5 - 8 weeks.
VERBASCUM (ver-BASK-um)SCROPHULARIACEAE. Showy tall hardy Eurasian biennials and perennials, valued
in the border and wild garden. Most do well in any soils except cold wet ones.
Full sun. Most are easy from seed which germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at warm
temperatures. Some need light.
NEW—Verbascum blattaria var. albiflorum. (1000) VERS-5A. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50
'WHITE MOTH MULLEIN'. Creamy-white inch wide five-petalled flowers in many open
1 - 2 foot spikes to 5 feet tall. Hardy biennial with broadly toothed leaves.
Eurasia. Likes well-drained soil. Makes long lasting cut flowers. Good bee
plant, and moths visit the flowers. Named 'Blattaria' because it is said to
repel cockroaches (Blatta). "Very showy plant."—I.
Grabo. Zone 5. Germinates
in 2 weeks, but some lots dormant, and need GA-3.—Verbascum Chaixii f. album 'Wedding Candles'. (500) VERS-7A. Packet: $2.50
1/4 gram: $7.50, Gram: $18.00Pure white inch-wide flowers with violet stamens, in dense, multi-branched
spikes in summer. Hardy perennial to 3 feet, with grey-green downy leaves.
S. Europe. Zone 4. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks warm.—Verbascum olympicum. (1000) VERS-34. Packet: $2.50Magnificent, densely white-woolly biennial or perennial to 5 - 6 feet, with
inch-wide bright yellow flowers in long spikes in June to August. Greece. Zone 6
- 8, sometimes grown as an annual. Full sun.—Verbascum phoeniceum Hybrids. (1000) VERS-36H. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50'PURPLE MULLIEN'. Mixed shades of white, pink, salmon, and purple. Hardy
perennial to 3 feet. Europe. Excellent in the border and moist spots. "Magnificent
plants that have survived in my Zone 3 garden and at the Anchorage Botanical
Gardens through the last 3 years, one of those the worst on record. Mine had no
snow cover or mulch that year and we recorded frost to a depth of 6 feet! I did
not lose one plant!"—Rhonda Williams, Alaska, 1/97.
—Verbascum phoeniceum 'Violetta'. (500) VERS-36V. Packet: $2.50
Gram: $7.50 BULK OUT OF STOCK - Packets are availableA lovely variety with dark purple-violet flowers in long spikes in May to
August. Will rebloom after deadheading. To 3 feet. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Verbascum roripifolium. (1000) VERS-40. Packet: $2.50Abundant yellow flowers on a hardy biennial to 3 feet, with deeply serrated
feathery foliage. Bulgaria. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks warm.—Verbascum Thapsus. (1000) VERS-45. Packet: $2.50'GREAT MULLIEN', 'JUPITER'S STAFF', 'ADAM'S FLANNEL'. Sulfur-yellow
inch-wide flowers in dense cylindrical spikes to 6 - 8 feet tall. Hardy biennial
forming handsome ground-hugging velvety rosettes of soft foot-long leaves.
Eurasia, naturalized widely. Zone 3. Full sun to part shade, dry poor soil. The
downy leaves have been used as tinder, the stalks, dipped in tallow, as torches
since ancient times. Throughout its range it is highly valued medicinally and
believed to drive away evil spirits—it was used by Ulysses for protection
against Circe. The seeds were used as a fish poison, the leaves and flowers
highly valued for respiratory diseases, ear infections, as an anodyne,
anti-fungal, etc. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
VERBENA (ver-BAY-na)VERBENACEAE. 'VERVAIN'. Annuals and perennials prized for their showy, often
fragrant clustered flowers, and some for medicine. Good in the border and wild
garden. Good cut flowers. Sun and heat promotes bloom and they are drought
resistant. Ordinary to dry, rocky soil suits them. Good on walls and banks.
Space 12 - 18". Sow indoors in February and March and set out in May, or
sow perennials where they are to stand. Germinates in 10 - 25 days at 65°F, and
some up to 90 days. Perennials may need 2 - 4 weeks cold treatment. Some need
dark, others light. Seed half life ranges from 1 to 7 years.
—Verbena bonariensis. (500) VERB-3. Packet: $2.50
Purple flowers in dense 1 1/2" spikes. Perennial to 3 - 4 feet with an
open, airy habit. South America. Zone 7. Popular in the South, good landscaping
plant. Pinch when young for good form. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks, needs light.—Verbena hastata. (500) VERB-16. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Ounce: $7.50'SIMPLER'S JOY', 'BLUE VERVAIN'. Narrow spikes of tiny blue flowers held
above the narrow, lance-shaped 6" leaves. Tall hardy perennial to 6 feet.
North America. Hardy to minus 35°F. Likes moist areas. Easy from seed; some
will sprout if sown anytime, but best if fall sown and kept moist. "Candelabra-like
spikes of tiny blue flowers in late summer that look like a blue mist over the
marsh."—Goldman. The seeds were eaten as pinole by the Concow Indians
of California. Formerly highly valued medicinally by the Indians and early
American herbalists. Give 8 weeks cold to germinate in about 2 months.—Verbena officinalis. (500) VERB-26. Packet: $2.50'TRUE VERVAIN', 'HERB-OF-GRACE'. Small lilac-blue flowers in spikes, on a
hardy perennial to 2 - 3 feet, with divided leaves. Europe. Zone 3. An important
medicinal plant since ancient times, it has a remarkable folk-lore surrounding
it, and was held sacred by the Egyptians, Romans, druids, and witches.
Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks warm, often dormant. Best with 3 months prechill.

VERONICA (ve-RO-ni-ka)SCROPHULARIACEAE. 'SPEEDWELL'. Popular annuals and perennials grown in the
rockery or border. Easily grown in ordinary soil. Hardy and free flowering.
Thrives in a bright sunny spot. Germinates in 2 - 4 weeks at warm temperatures.
Some are eaten or used as tea or medicinally.
—Veronica longifolia Pink. (1000) VERO-46P. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $9.00
Pastel pink flowers in dense 6 - 10" spikes in summer. Hardy perennial to 3
- 4 feet, with lance-shaped 4" leaves. Eurasia. Zone 4. Much loved by bees.
Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.—Veronica officinalis. (100) VERO-62. Packet: $2.50'TRUE SPEEDWELL'. Clear blue 1/4" flowers in dense spikes to 1 1/2 -
6" long, from May to July, followed by heart-shaped pods. Creeping hardy
perennial to 6 - 18", with 1 - 2" leaves. N. Hemisphere. Zone 3. Will
grow in the shade of trees where no grass will grow, covering the ground with
sod. Once used as a tea. Has many medicinal uses.
"If you're going to get old, you might as well get as old as you can
get."—Wallace Stegner.
VIBURNUM (vi-BUR-num)CAPRIFOLIACEAE. Ornamental shrubs and small trees grown for their showy
clustered blooms and attractive fruits. Excellent for wildlife plantings, and
valuable wild bird food. Good to naturalize at the edge of woods. "The
viburnums rank among the most valuable ornamental shrubs."—Rehder.
Many need warm then cold to germinate.
—Viburnum Lentago. (50) VIB-37. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $18.00
'SWEET VIBURNUM', 'NANNYBERRY'. White flowers in large clusters, followed by
1/2" bluish-black edible berries. Shrub to 30 feet. E. North America. Zone
2. The berries are sweet and have a good flavor. Needs warm then cold, sow in
spring, root germinates in summer, top growth next spring.
—Viburnum trilobum. (100) VIB-69. Packet: $2.00
Ounce: $6.00, 1/4 Pound: $18.00'AMERICAN CRANBERRY BUSH', 'HIGH CRANBERRY'. White flowers in 4"
clusters in May and June, followed by scarlet berries. Hardy shrub to 12 feet.
Northern N. America. Zone 2. The attractive berries remain on the bush till the
following spring. They were eaten by the Indians, and made into jelly. Harvest
after a hard frost is best. Sow in spring or summer for top growth the next
spring. Root germinates in 2 - 5 months, top growth after a cold period. (=americanum)

VITIS (VEE-tis or VYE-tis)VITACEAE. Tendril-climbing woody vines of the North Hemisphere, grown for
their clustered berries and for ornament. Valued for wine making since ancient
times. Cold usually helps germination.
—Vitis californica. (25) VITI-20. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50 BULK OUT OF STOCK - Packets are available'CALIFORNIA WILD GRAPE', 'SHE-IN' (Pomo name). Abundant purple, clustered
grapes with whitish bloom. Tall vigorous climber or sprawler, reaching treetops
or forming thick groundcover on banks. Round or kidney-shaped, only slightly
pointed leaves. Very fragrant flowers. Streamsides of California. The grapes
were much eaten by Indians, and make tasty jelly. Said to have been cultivated
by ancient Pueblo Indians. The thin vines are very strong and flexible, and were
used in basketry and split for coarse thread. Said to produce tart grapes in
moist soil, and sweet grapes in dry areas. Prechill 3 months to germinate in 1 -
4 weeks.
—Vitis riparia. (100) VITI-91. Packet: $2.50
Ounce: $7.50 (about 1000 seed)'WILD RIVER GRAPE', 'SWEET-SCENTED GRAPE'. Small black or blue-black fruits,
sometimes as large as buckshot. Late maturity. Strong vine. Hardy to Zone 2.
Several are needed for pollination. "Old timers used to brew a rather
potent wine from these grapes."—D. McDaniel. Give 3 - 7 months cold,
or try 24 hours in hydrogen peroxide, then GA-3, then 3 weeks cold treatment.